SINGAPORE — In previous years, Ramadan was always a social affair for food delivery rider Abdul Rashid. He would go home to break fast with his family, or if he was too busy, he would have his meal with fellow riders.

But with circuit breaker measures in place this year to slow the spread of Covid-19, breaking fast involves gobbling down a quick meal alone at a parking space somewhere, next to his motorcycle.

“I normally sit beside my (motorcycle) and eat for about 10 to 15 minutes,” said the 30-year-old Deliveroo rider. “I sit beside my bike, so people will know I am a food delivery rider.” 

Like many other Muslim food delivery riders, Mr Abdul is not slowing down during fasting month, not when he has a wife and one-year-old daughter to provide for amid a worsening economy. 

Many who spoke to TODAY said that unlike in previous years, they are powering through the peak period for food deliveries, 6pm to 8pm, so they can earn more. 

This means they have to break their fast on the go, as the time for this is at 7.08pm.

But in the midst of the hunger and fatigue, there is also some relief, they said, as this year, they have also received more tips, snacks, drinks and even full meals from customers and merchants.

Food delivery companies have also started initiatives to help riders who are fasting, such as reminding customers to order their dinners well in advance, to give Muslim riders a chance to break fast with their families. 

A BUSIER RAMADAN

A GrabFood rider who wanted to be known only as Rey said the peak period for dinner deliveries is now more hectic than ever because of the circuit breaker, and when an order comes in around 7pm, he would rather seize it than break his fast on time.

Often, he would take a sip of a canned drink and have a quick smoke before getting “back on task”, the 30-year-old said. Once, he was able to have his first proper meal of the day only at midnight. 

Deliveroo rider Siti Khasy, a single mother, still prioritises breaking fast with her daughter at home this year, but misses the communal feeling of Ramadans past.

The 21-year-old said that in past years, some food-and-beverage outlets even offered Muslim riders free meals during the fasting month.

“Last year was better because (the delivery riders) could break fast together for free; we would sit together around a table and eat.”  

Such practices have now stopped because of the tighter safe distancing measures, she said. 

ACTS OF KINDNESS FROM CUSTOMERS, MERCHANTS

Meanwhile, more customers and merchants are doing what they can to ease the challenges faced by riders. 

For instance, Mr Muhammad Firdaus Shah Jahan, a 35-year-old GrabFood delivery rider, said that the amount of tips he receives each day has risen by about S$4 on average.

Foodpanda rider Muhammad Farhan Azman, 23, said about a third of his customers now give tips, whereas he used to receive tips from fewer than 5 per cent of deliveries in the past. 

“It is not about the amount, but the appreciation they show us. It gives us a little bit of motivation to push on,” he said. 

Some riders said they have also been receiving drinks and snacks from customers and merchants.

Mr Abdul said that he has received drinks such as green tea and lemon tea from his customers, while Rey said that a fast-food chain at The Centrepoint mall on Orchard Road had served him an entire meal for free while he was delivering after break-fast time. 

Delivery riders have also found customers to be more patient and understanding than usual these days, even when orders arrive late. 

“(Before the pandemic), we were so afraid of telling customers that the food is going to be delayed,” said GrabFood rider Rey. “Now, they not only send us a nice message; they will tip us as well.” 

He said that he was recently offered ice cream at a dessert store in Katong at about 2pm, but since he was fasting, he could not consume it. 

He offered the ice cream to a child patronising the store and the merchant gave him a canned drink instead, which he kept with him until it was time to break fast.

“In almost two years of me doing this, I have never seen anything like that at all,” he said. 

WHAT FOOD DELIVERY COMPANIES ARE DOING

Grab’s spokesperson said that the company has been reminding customers to make orders in a more considerate manner this period. 

For example, it encourages customers to place orders between 2pm and 6pm, so that riders have ample time to complete requests before heading home for dinner.

From May 11 to June 7, GrabFood has also partnered 13 halal-certified restaurants, so that customers can show their appreciation and order meals for their delivery riders under its "Buy Your Delivery-Partner A Meal" initiative. 

Foodpanda’s spokesperson said that since the beginning of May, the company has been providing riders with a bottle of water and snacks for every order they receive on Fridays from 7pm to 9pm. 

Meanwhile, during the month of Ramadan, Deliveroo is offering its riders special deals from participating restaurants, such as 50 per cent off at Nandos and 30 per cent off at Swensen’s. 

Deliveroo riders may also request to cancel any booked deliveries without incurring a penalty if they feel that an area exposes them to a high risk of contracting the virus, a spokesperson said.